Hi, after a bit of getting my ar$e in gear, I'm helping the British Legion out with poppies / Rememberance Sunday this year. However, I've been out 10 years and not exactly sure where my original beret is (If I still have it). I have bought another cap badge and have what I think is a spare beret. But like most 10 years after leaving, I seem to have substancially less hair than when I was in! So I need to shrink the beret I have at it migth be tricky getting hold of another in the next month.

I've already cut the lining out, which has made a difference, but are there any other ways to reduce or shrink the material? I remember something about dipping it in hot then cold water, but now I'm older and wiser I don't see how this works!

Any help would be good, I don't want to make a mockary of my Regt or the Legion come the end of October when we start selling poppies!

I think, based on attending numerous Remembrance Services on a perfectly good day off that the current method adopted by Standard Bearers works a treat. I think it involves passing the beret round the chimps enclosure at Monkey World for 2 weeks and then wet shaping it over an antique globe.

For the full effect wear massive specs, develop a wall eye and ensure you practice and perfect the saluting style of a Gambian Colonel.

I wrapped mine into a suasage shape, held it in place with rubber bands, let it soak in water for a bit and then took it out and left it to dry.
Unfortunately mu old Mum helped it along by placing it on a hot radiator and it shrunk so much that it ended up looking like a Jewish kapel, the headgear jewish guys wear.

1. Make sure reasonable fit - place on head.
2. Fill Kettle with water
3. Boil kettle and get a bowl big enough to submerge beret.
4. Fill sink with cold water
5. Being careful not to burn fingers plunge beret into boiling water
6. Keep in water for a couple of minuets.
7. Plunge beret into cold water and keep submerged for a couple of mins.
8. Repeat process.
9. Place on head and shape to perfection.
10. Keep on head for a couple of hours whilst drying and then leave to stand until dry at room temperature.

I still wonder how people forget what is essentially taught on day 1 week 1 in phase 1

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Therein lies the TA problem......it never does happen, it's even worse up here with the TOS, up until the Scots formed each infantry unit shaped their TOS a certain way, now it has to be ala beret and the fact that a lot of other arms now wear the TOS with no idea of how to shape it .........

a lot of other arms now wear the TOS with no idea of how to shape it .........

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Shocking ! - That explains why so many of them look like helicopter lending pads. You never see a Royal Marine or Para in a sh1t beret do you. Nor anyone in the Royal Artillery? - a good sharp knife edge on top is best !